The Last Generation Who Picked Cotton by Hand: What We Lose When Their Stories Die
By Alysia Steele Memory Is a Living Archive I have spent years sitting at kitchen tables, church fellowship halls, and front porches across Mississippi listening to men and women describe what it meant to pick cotton by hand. Many of them belong to the last living generation who can recall the physical rhythm of dragging […]
Breaking the Mold: Being a Black Woman in Photojournalism
Navigating a Historically Exclusionary Field Entering the realm of photojournalism as a Black woman demands more than technical proficiency. It requires perseverance, acute self-awareness, and the capacity to operate within spaces that have long marginalized individuals who share my identity. From the outset, I recognized that my presence would challenge entrenched stereotypes and confront assumptions […]
Time Management and Tenacity: How I Became the First Black Tenured Journalism Professor at Ole Miss
Looking back on my career, it is easy to see the milestones and awards and think they came from talent alone. But anyone who has worked alongside me knows that the real drivers have always been tenacity, discipline, and a commitment to managing my time wisely. Becoming the first Black tenured journalism professor at the […]
Jewelry, Journalism, and Justice: How Creative Hobbies Fuel Professional Passion
For as long as I can remember, I have loved creating. Long before I became a photojournalist, a professor, or an author, I was drawn to making things with my hands. Photography was my first love, but when I could not immediately find a job after earning my master’s degree, I returned to another creative […]